The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), formerly KIIT University, a deemed university, will confer Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), Honorary Causa on Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of the Imphal-based Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

According to sources, Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo will be honoured with the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) during the 14th Annual Convocation of KIIT, Bhubaneshwar, for his scientific achievements and contributions in the field of bioresources and sustainable development.

Honoris Causa is usually conferred on an individual for his or her outstanding contribution in any field. The honorary D.Sc. degree will be conferred upon him in the presence of several eminent personalities, including Nobel laureates from abroad, IBSD sources said.

Prof Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, who is also the General President of the Indian Science Congress, has congratulated Prof Sahoo for this achievement.

Sources said, Prof Sahoo has the distinction of being the first Indian student to visit Antarctica during 1987-88, as part of a team which laid the foundation for India’s permanent station, Maitri, which is still standing tall, even after 30 years in extreme climatic conditions where the temperature can go down to -89 degrees Celsius.

Prof Sahoo also has the distinction of travelling to all seven continents and five oceans within a record time of 18 months way back in 1987-88, sources added.

During his long standing career spanning over three decades, the IBSD director has travelled to over 50 countries and has also worked at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA as an INSA-JSPS Fellow.

Prof Sahoo, who also been instrumental in launching India’s First Cherry Blossom Festival for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development, has published several high-quality papers in international journals.

He has also published 11 books and produced 2 documentary films.

Three months back, Prof Sahoo was also elected fellow of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences-India (NASI) and was elected honorary fellow of the Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI). He has also received the India Sustainability Leadership Award in the field of Sustainable Development and has been featured amongst India’s 20 social entrepreneurs in the bestselling book ‘I Have a Dream’, which has been translated into several Indian languages.

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